R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe Shares Coronavirus Message

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe shared a video message related to helping stop the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. Stipe sang part of the band’s classic “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” to introduce his plea for people to take precautions to help stop the pandemic.

Billboard recently noted a return to the charts for “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” which was released on R.E.M.’s 1987 album, Document. The band’s “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” also saw spikes in popularity.

Stipe posted short clips on Twitter and Instagram as well as a longer video on his website. Stipe indicated he was quasi-self-quarantining and shared that both sets of his grandparents survived the Spanish Flu 1918 pandemic.

Stipe’s message also had instructions for staying safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19, noting that as a “former pop star” he was not the best source of information, which should be found at the CDC and trusted news outlets. Check out Stipe’s message below: